NITI Aayog will be kept in the loop for taking up all the major issues with the Centre

Taking forward the agenda of NITI Aayog for promoting cooperative federalism in the country, a team of senior officials of NITI Aayog, led by Dr. Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman, met with the Chief Minister of West Bengal Ms. Mamata Banerjee and other senior officials of the state govt.

The Vice Chairman was accompanied by Member, Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Shri Vikram Singh Gaur, Joint Secretary and other officials of NITI Aayog.Shri Amit Mitra, Finance Minister,Govt. of West Bengal and Shri Malay Kumar De, Chief Secretary,Govt. of West Bengal also participated in the deliberations.

Vice Chairman & Chief Minister held discussions on wide-range of issues regarding the overall development of the State. Specific discussions were held on the following –

Revival of flood management program of Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hoogly system, Damodar, Roopnarayan, Subranarekha, Kangsabati, Teesta, Torsha and Jaldhaka rivers
Restructuring of the state power distribution companies
Desiltation of Maithon&Tanchet reservoirs
Full operationalization of airport at Durgapur (Andal) and Introduction of direct flights between Kolkata & Europe
Backward Region Grant Fund, 14th Finance Commission – Performance grant for rural & urban local bodies
SarvaShikshaAbhiyan, Mid-day meal program, National Social Assistance Program
AMRUT, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan
Mining & abandoned coal mines, Allocation of coal blocks
Dredging of Haldia Port, Development of Dhorsagar &Tajpor Port, Allotment of surplus land of Kolkata Port Trust
Modernization of Police Forces, Rehabilitation & Upgradation of Infrastructure of Bangladeshi Enclaves
Crop Insurance Scheme, Kisan Credit Scheme, Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture

Outstanding issues ofCentral Ministries with respect to State of West Bengal in sectors such as Coal, Commerce, Petroleum & Natural Gas, Chemicals & Petrochemicals, Civil Aviation, Mines, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Food and Public Distribution, Panchayati Raj, Rural Development, and Housing & Urban Affairs were also deliberated upon.

CM appreciated the efforts of NITI Aayog andalso conveyed that NITI Aayog will be kept in the loop for taking up all the major issues with the Centre.